Norwin High School senior awarded full-tuition scholarship to Thiel College

Posted January 19, 2023 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Norwin High School senior Bret Vilage, of Irwin, Pa., won an academic scholarship worth $139,856 to Thiel College during a surprise presentation on Wednesday afternoon.

Read coverage of the scholarship event.

Vilage was one of five winners for 2023 from a field of 136 applicants. He joins Cydney Wierzbowski, a senior from Derry Area High School. The three remaining winners will be announced later this week. Vilage intends to major in chemistry and pre-pharmacy.

Vilage is in the National Honors Society, has been on the Norwin High School’s honor roll from ninth to 12th grade, is a member of the school’s French Club, and has been a four-year letterman for the varsity tennis team, where he is co-captain and a member of the United States Tennis Association. Vilage has also been active in the performing arts, as he is a tenor with the Norwin High School Chamber Singers and Norwin High School Choir and was the lead actor in the Norwin Theatre Company’s Sister Act, Seussical, Bring It On, and Puffs, and was a featured actor/dancer in The Little Mermaid. Outside of school, he participates in the Norwin Summer Tennis Camp as a head junior coach and volunteers at a number of nursing homes, schools, churches, and healthcare facilities, including the Westmoreland County Annual Youth Holiday Drive, Saint Agnes Church Vacation Bible School, Redstone Highlands Senior Living Communities. Vilage also works at Panera Bread.

He is the son of Melissa and Robert Vilage, brother of Bayleigh, and grandson of Ronald Labosco. He is also the grandson of the late Frank and Helen Vilage.